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Mass. Gov. again seeks health insurance payment overhaul; Iowa lawmakers review denial of health coverage to residents with HIV

Articles detail the Massachusetts state of the state address, efforts in Iowa to probe denials in the high risk pool and other legislative news.

24 Jan 2012

First Edition: January 24, 2012

In today's news, a new survey shows that the percentage of Americans lacking health insurance coverage rose for the fourth straight year in 2011.

24 Jan 2012

States, health industry moving ahead on implementing health law

New York and New Jersey are both moving forward with plans to comply with the national health care law, which would extend coverage to the uninsured by 2014. ... They are among 17 states making headway.

24 Jan 2012

Viewpoints: Opposing views of HHS' contraception rule; Health care costs and the liberal agenda

The administration's rule leaves the decision in the hands of patients, where it belongs, while respecting the rights of religions. It holds true to the original and wise idea that access to preventive medicine is a good idea for the nation's physical and financial well-being.

24 Jan 2012

Medical marketplace trends: Hospitals, doctors explore strategies that could alter the health care delivery system

The New York Times reports that hospitals are competing for rich patients from all over the world. The Boston Globe reports on a strategy catching on in Massachusetts. And CNN notes that physicians are increasingly looking to the government for loans.

24 Jan 2012

State news: Rate hikes approved in Mass., Va. families still wait for autism coverage, health IT booming

State regulators have approved premium increases averaging 2.3 percent for health insurance covering hundreds of thousands of residents, the most modest hikes in at least a decade and a sign that years of efforts to control costs may be working. The new rates are in Massachusetts' "small group'' market, which includes tens of thousands of small businesses as well as self-employed and formerly uninsured individuals.

24 Jan 2012

Study provides valuable information on which cancer patients might need help to quit smoking

A new analysis has found that a substantial number of lung and colorectal cancer patients continue to smoke after being diagnosed. Published early online in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the study provides valuable information on which cancer patients might need help to quit smoking.

23 Jan 2012

Gingrich: Romney's Mass. health plan too 'liberal' for S.C. GOP

On Face The Nation, Gingrich said South Carolina voters also realized how "liberal" Romney was when he governed Massachusetts, particularly his health care plan. "Clearly, he was way to the left" of South Carolina voters, Gingrich said.

23 Jan 2012

Health law, abortion among hot topics in S.C. Republican primary debate

The GOP presidential hopefuls clashed on a range of issues related to the health law, its individual mandate and efforts to repeal it. Candidates' positions on abortion were also flashpoints.

21 Jan 2012

UnitedHealth's profits rise

The company reported that its fourth-quarter profits rose 21 percent, driving by increases in health-insurance membership and continued light health care usage.

21 Jan 2012

Health law supporters brace for future attacks, wonder whether overhaul will be part of the SOTU address

Those who consider the health law one of President Barack Obama's leading domestic achievements look to see whether he will include it in his Tuesday night speech. Meanwhile, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius predicts continued criticism and "misinformation" about the health law while House Republicans celebrated the one-year anniversary of their vote to repeal it.

21 Jan 2012

Research roundup: 'No individual mandate' scenarios; Breaking down health care expenditures

This paper expands 2011 research examining whether the health law's controversial individual mandate – which requires most people to have health insurance -- will be effective.

21 Jan 2012

Colo. House passes resolution to repeal the health law; Conn. insurance exhange board faces key decisions

Colorado's Republican-led House voted largely along party lines to wage a challenge to the federal health law -- a state-initiated amendment to the Constitution to repeal the measure. And, in Connecticut, the planning panel has decisions to make well before people start signing up for coverage on the state's health exchange.

21 Jan 2012

Roundup: N.Y. insurers to update directories; Cook county, Ill. health fees fall short; Md. woman says hospital denied same-sex visitation

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman says his office has reached settlements with eight health insurance companies that require them to ensure the accuracy of provider directories on their websites. The attorney general's office says the companies will remove names of doctors and other providers who no longer participate and correct listing errors for others.

20 Jan 2012

Wisconsin Governor issues 'stop work' order on state health exchange

Wis. Gov. Scott Walker officially announced on Wednesday that he will not implement a state-based health exchange or accept federal funding for it. Meanwhile, in Minnesota, a government task force has begun debating a list of basic principles for that state's health care exchange. And Stateline offers an overview of what states in general are doing in regard to these insurance marketplaces.

20 Jan 2012

First Edition: January 20, 2012

Today's headlines include dispatches detailing how health care played in last night's S.C. GOP presidential primary debate.

20 Jan 2012

More than half of high-risk Americans do not receive HBV vaccination

Although there is an effective vaccine for hepatitis B and public health officials have a strong sense of who is at highest risk for the infectious liver disease, tens of thousands of people in the United States contract the virus every year. According to a new study by researchers at Brown University, missed opportunities to administer the vaccine continue to be a reason why infections persist.

20 Jan 2012

States streamline, add efficiency to Medicaid, survey finds

According to a Kaiser Family Foundation survey, 29 states have streamlined their programs, with most taking advantage of federal incentives to use new technology.

20 Jan 2012

White House: Health exchanges on track in many states

A report Wednesday by the Obama administration said that many states, including some with GOP governors, are proceeding with state-based exchanges. Still, a federal exchange is in the works for those that can't or won't meet the health law's requirements and timeline.

20 Jan 2012

Roundup: State lawmakers urge deficit reduction

On Wednesday, the National Conference of State Legislatures, which represents lawmakers from across the country, sent President Barack Obama, Speaker of the House John Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid a letter urging them to "examine all possible avenues for deficit reduction, including discretionary spending, entitlement reform and revenue-related options."

20 Jan 2012

Health Insurance News and Research

Mass. Gov. again seeks health insurance payment overhaul; Iowa lawmakers review denial of health coverage to residents with HIV

First Edition: January 24, 2012

States, health industry moving ahead on implementing health law

Viewpoints: Opposing views of HHS' contraception rule; Health care costs and the liberal agenda

Medical marketplace trends: Hospitals, doctors explore strategies that could alter the health care delivery system

State news: Rate hikes approved in Mass., Va. families still wait for autism coverage, health IT booming

Study provides valuable information on which cancer patients might need help to quit smoking

Gingrich: Romney's Mass. health plan too 'liberal' for S.C. GOP

Health law, abortion among hot topics in S.C. Republican primary debate

UnitedHealth's profits rise

Health law supporters brace for future attacks, wonder whether overhaul will be part of the SOTU address

Research roundup: 'No individual mandate' scenarios; Breaking down health care expenditures

Colo. House passes resolution to repeal the health law; Conn. insurance exhange board faces key decisions

Roundup: N.Y. insurers to update directories; Cook county, Ill. health fees fall short; Md. woman says hospital denied same-sex visitation

Wisconsin Governor issues 'stop work' order on state health exchange

First Edition: January 20, 2012

More than half of high-risk Americans do not receive HBV vaccination

States streamline, add efficiency to Medicaid, survey finds

White House: Health exchanges on track in many states

Roundup: State lawmakers urge deficit reduction

Bringing real-time analytics to downstream bioprocess monitoring

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

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